How to practice in the off-season...

By Coach James Gels
Date: 03/17/2001

Some players practice all summer and never get any better, while others improve dramatically. Why? It's has to do with practicing correctly, or what you really need to practice to improve. All players need to work on (1) ball handling skills, (2) shooting, (3) work under the backboard, (4) offensive moves, (5) free-throw shooting, (6) fingertip tipping and jumping drills.

Practice at home, four or five days a week.

Ball-Handling
Spend 10 minutes doing our standard ball-handling drills, and dribbling drills. These include pinches, fingertips, slams, circles, drops, crazy eights, etc.

Under the Backboard (Mikan Drill)
Do this drill under the basket before your shooting practice. Become familiar with how the ball comes off the backboard, and at different angles. Start by standing right under the basket. Step on the left foot and do a baby hook lay-up on the right side, using the backboard. Catch the rebound and step on the right foot and do the baby hook lay-up on the left side using your left hand. No dribbling is allowed. Repeat this continuously alternating right and left sides for a couple minutes. This will help you with your lay-ups, both right and left-handed, and give you a better feel for the backboard.

Spot Shooting
Spend time taking a certain number of shots from each of these spots. Always follow and rebound any missed shots with a lay-up. Start with the shorter shots, working on good one-handed technique with your shoulders square, your elbow in, proper wrist cock and fingertip release and with a nice follow through, getting back-spin (rotation). Extend your range out to the 3-point range.

Offensive Moves
If you are an outside player, work on the outside moves. Inside, post up players work on the inside, post up moves. All around players do them all!

Outside, Perimeter Players
Do each of these moves five times:
First, from the right side of the court: make sure your left foot is the pivot foot, and you jab step with your right foot.
  1. Jab step- drive - lay-up.
  2. Jab step - crossover - lay-up.
  3. Jab step - pull back - jump shot.
  4. Jab step - drive - jump shot.
  5. Jab step - crossover - jump shot.

If you are an outside player, work on the outside moves. Inside, post up players work on the inside, post up moves. All around players do them all!

Outside, Perimeter Players
Do each of these moves five times:
First, from the right side of the court: make sure your left foot is the pivot foot, and you jab step with your right foot.
  1. Jab step- drive - lay-up.
  2. Jab step - crossover - lay-up.
  3. Jab step - pull back - jump shot.
  4. Jab step - drive - jump shot.
  5. Jab step - crossover - jump shot.

Then, repeat all five moves from the left side of the court. Make sure your right foot is the pivot foot, and you jab step with your left foot. Shoot all lay-ups from this side, left-handed.

Inside, Post Up Players
Do each of these moves five times:
  1. Drop step to baseline, right side.
  2. Drop step to lane, jump hook, right side.
  3. Pivot, face defender, jab step, baby jumper, right side
  4. Pivot, face defender, fake shot, up and under move, right side.
  5. Drop step to baseline, left side.
  6. Drop step to lane, jump hook, left side.
  7. Pivot, face defender, jab step, baby jumper, left side
  8. Pivot, face defender, fake shot, up and under move, left side.

Free-Throw Shooting
Establish fundamentals, attitude, and a practice routine.
Shoot 25 free throws. Keep a record of your shooting percentage.

Tipping Drill
Stand under the basket on the right side and throw the ball up on the backboard. Jump as high as you can, and tip the ball with your right hand fingertips 10 times. Try to tip the last one in the basket. Repeat this on the left side, using your left hand. This will help improve your fingertip control and play under the basket, as well as improving your leaping ability.

Conditioning
You must be in excellent physical condition to play the game well. Shooting skills, concentration, and basic fundamentals deteriorate when you are tired. In the off-season, don't forget conditioning. Run a couple miles 3 or 4 days a week. Do some wind sprints, or 100-yard dashes. Jumping rope is also good for developing quick feet, as well as for conditioning. Be ready when the first day of practice arrives!